Apparatus and method for charging pottery molds



July 18, 1944. w. J. MILL'ER ETAL 2,354,170 APPARATUS AND METHOD FORCHARGING POTTERY moms Original Filed Aug. 21,1959

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. MILLER ASHLEY u. REEK July 18,1944. w. J. MILLER ETAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHARGING POTTERY MOLDSOriginal Filed Aug. 21, 1939 2 t s t 2 R 5 RE O K mm W R Patented July18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATE OFFICE f arrsas'rus AND METHOD Foa onsaomoror'ranr MOLDS William J. Miller, Swlssvale, and Ashley .1. Beck,Garrick, Pa. said Reek assignor to said Miller Original applicationAugust 21, 1939,-Serial No. 291,158. Divided and this applicationOctober 6, 1942. Serial No 400.940

- ems-24) 18 Claims.

bution of the molding surface and then spread the clay over the wareforming surface thereby insuring that the molding surface will beproperly covered to a given depth suitable for jiggering and at the sametime conserving material.

The present application is principally concerned with certain novelimprovements associated with the feeder for guiding and directing clayso that the charge will be properly located on the mold and also in amethod of cutting 01! charges of clay designed to insure properdisposition thereof on the molding surface of the mold. j

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feeder.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing apparatus for guiding and directing the lowerend of the slug from which charges of clay are cut.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the ejecting end of the feeder of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the feeder of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates mechanism for supporting the charge subsequent tosegregation and before said charge is deposited upon the mold.

Fig. 6 is a. top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

The clay or ceramic material from which the charges are made issues fromthe nozzle of an extrusion machine I in a column of predetermined andpreferably circular cross section containing a multiple of mold charges.The column may be fed directly onto the belt 2 of the feeder andtransported in uninterrupted length to the mold charging positions,providing the rate of extrusion is uniform and equal to the rate oflinear consumption, or the column may be segregated at the mouth of theextrusion machine in billets or slugs-of predetermined length andmanually deposited on the belt 2, the lengths of ma-, terial beingwelded together as at 5 by hand. A single extrusion machine may be'usedin this event with a multiple of feeders.

From the line A--A rearwardly, or to the left, in Fig. 1 is the loadingzone where clay is applied and the belt preferably travels therealong-atan incline or along a line which is a projection of the angle ofinterruption of curvature at A-A not to press the column so hard as soas to avoid any sharp end. The angl of interruption may be predominatelyhorizontal, as illustrated. or predominately vertical. Where the planeof the loading surface is predominately vertical, the weight of the claywill assist the drive in overcoming friction drag between the conveyorbelt and its supporting surface and thus facilitate the forward travelthereof.

The lower return portion of .the belt travels.

in a straight line and is driven in this zone by a shiftable clutchv l3,intermittently actuated by commencement of thebelt advancing stroke)through engagement with a stop member 25, fas-v tened to the rear end ofthe frame 28 on which the clutch is mounted.

In the zone of curvature, commencing at or about the line 3-3, the claycolumn C is preferably engaged and supported .on the upper side 1 by abelt 32, which travels between crowned rollers' 33 and 34. This belthelps suppo t the column in the downward path to the segregatingpositionand prevents it from raising of! the lower belt and buckling.

The degree of pressure exerted will depend on how easily the column willbend and how tightly it must be pressed between thebelts to preventslipping, such factors as normal adhesion being taken intoconsideration. It is desired, however. to cause deformation in anyharmful degree.

In order to adjust the belt tolcolumns of dif-' .ferent dimension, andalso to tension it, the up- 34b in the outer frame 42 and has a yokeattached thereto inside the frame. This yoke is adjustable back andforthby means of screw 4| and nut 40a and a spring I encompassing the screwand bearing against the inside of the frame I allows theentire yoke Itand roller 34 to float rearwardly. v

The clay column is guided and supported latdepending on the degree ofinclination.

' erally by flexible strips of metal 35, Fig. 4, at-

tached to roller frames 85 and 42. The extremities thereof are turnedoutwardly so as to prevent gouging and they are adjustable inwardly byscrews 58a.

Blades 45 and 45a, Fig. 2, are provided for detaching the column of clayfrom belts 2 and 32 and together with lower guides 38 support thecolum'ndirectly above the segregating position. Support at this point isdesirable in order to provide the necessary stabilization and resistanceto cutting and also to prevent the segregating wir from dragging the endof the column of! center. Should the weld between columns be defective,these blades together with the guides 38 will prevent detached ends fromdropping onto the mold.

The blades 45 and 45a are mounted in holders 46 and secured thereto byblocks 41 which are tightened by screws 41a. Where the loading zone ishorizontal or substantially so, the weight of the portion of the columnoccupying this zone-is either not imposed on blades 45 and 45a and lowerguides 35 at all or is only slightly imposed, The holders for blade 45are .pivotally mounted at 46a on each side of the frame 42 so that theangl of the blade relative to belt 2 may be adjusted. The holders forblade 45a are mounted on and are shiftable with yoke 39 (see Fig. 3). Itis desired that the leading edge of each blade engage each respectivebelt along the crown of rollers I2 and 34 or slightly thereabove. Itwill be noted that in passing over the crown of the rollers the lateralcurvature of each belt is reversed, thereby tending to draw each beltaway from the column of clay along the lateral edges, thereby assistingin stripping the belts from the column, the blades completing the work.It is also desired thatthe pivots 48a be so positioned that the bladesmay be swung about a center defined by the point of contact of eachblade with its respective belt.

Means are provided for cleaning each belt of residual clay to preventdrying out of the material and surface contamination of the column andalso to prevent fouling of the clutch for actuating belt 2. Each cleanercomprises a blade 38 and a holder therefor, there being a collectingpocket for the scrapings. One of these devices is mounted on the frame35 on flexible supporting members 31 and a pair thereof designated 54and 55 are disposed directly ahead of the clutch l3, Fig. 1, and onopposite sides thereof. These last two cleaners are pressed against thebelt by coil springs.

The base 56, Fig. l, of the feeder frame has oversize screw holes 51Fig. 3 to enable lateral and longitudinal adjustment thereof relative tosupport angles 58 of a support carriage. This permits adjustment of theposition of the end face of the clay column relative to the verticalaxis of the mold. The angles 58 are connected by cross channels forminga frame which is mounted on grooved wheels 59, Fig. 6, running on tracks60 so that the entire feeder may be moved back to provide access todies, chucks, and segregating means. Indexing pins lock the frame one ormore forward operating positions.

The mechanism for segregating the charges comprises a frame 48 made upof spaced parallel bars reciprocably mounted on rollers 49. One or morecutting wires 50 are held between the bars, one end of the wire beingattached to a stationary binding post 50a, Fig. 7, and the other end toa column at the segregating position.

quick change tensioning device comprising a spring pressed push rod 5]with a hooked terminus for the looped end of the wire, The framereciprocates once to every two reciprocations of the clutch l3, therebycutting a charge in each direction. The frame is actuated by an airmotor 43 through an adjustable timed valve (not shown) in synchronismwith the pottery making functions of machine. Check and adjustablebypass valves 53a enable the cutting speed to be regulated while thedriving connection subsists.

The slug of clay is loaded onto the feeder belt from a horizontalposition and is carried by the belt around the curve and downwardly to asegregating point where the lower end of the column faces the mold insubstantial parallelism with the molding surface. The column at thesegregating position is projected at' an angle in order to help producea proportional charge and the clay is cut off by passing the wiretherethrough in a direction crosswise of the long axis of the The wirepreferably travels in a horizontal plane as indicated by the drawings. 5

It is desired to obtain a charge of clay so proportioned and of suchvolume that when deposited on the center of distribution of the mold, itwill flow evenly under the press and reliably fill all exposed portionsof the molding surface. In this connection, the lowermost end of thecolumn should be positioned so that the vertical center line of the moldand the charge correspond. In other words, they should be co-axial andsince the molding surface is usually circular in shape and since thecharge is a proportional shape, then it follows that if the charge isplaced on the center of distribution of the mold and is pressed out bymeans of a die similar to that shown in the parent application, thenthere will be a proper distribution of the material over the moldingsurface.

The provisions for adjusting the position of the lead end of the slugare responsible for properly locating said end so that the charge, whenout off, will be centered on the mold.

As stated in the parent application it is preferred herein, in thefeeding of charges of clay to flat ware molds, to commence theapplication before the charge has been severed entirely from the parentslug and to progressively lay the charge on the mold. It will beobserved that the charge of clay is of smaller diameter than thediameter of the molding surface and the provisions for guiding andlocating the end of the slug have the important function ofpredetermining the location of this slice on the surface of the moldinside the outer limits of the molding surface.

Once the rim of the charge contacts the mold, it adheres thereto and theremainder falls reliably into predetermined position and, furthermore,such adhesion helps in stabilizing the column and resisting the tendencyof the cutting wire to drag th column off center. Progressive contactwith mold expels air, thus allowing the clay to intimately contact themold surface and make a good capillary bond. By cutting on the reversestroke, the danger of dragging the column to one side from repeatedcutting in one direction is eliminated.

In order to make the charges fall flat without turning over or strikingon the rim, the cutting wire 50 is actuated at high velocity; this maybe accomplished by proper regulation of the air motor or by othersuitable means. The charge may also be caused to drop flat against themold by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. which comprises a pair ofinterconnected swinging brackets fl having a charge receiving surface "adisposed directly below the end face of the column of clay. After thewire has passed through the clay and the charge has fallen onto theseat, the wire, or a bar 95b travelling thereahead of strikes one of thebrackets, pushing it outwardly and causing it to open thereby droppingthe charge into the mold. The brackets are suspended from the frame 42,Fig. 2, and may be' closed by gravity or by a spring 3. The clearancebetween the center edge of the brackets can be large so that the chargewill sag in the central portion and when released will contact the moldfirst in this 'zone thereby pushing out the air as the brim zonesettles.

With reference to Fig. 1, which the belt 32 is shown as an idler, it isto be understood that it may be driven in synchronism with belt 2 byrunning a chain between the shafts on which rollers I2 and 33 aremounted. Moreover, various degrees of resistance to travel may beimposed on belt 32 by applying an adjustable friction drag to roller 33or the shaft on which it is mounted. It is understood that other meansmay be substituted for belt 32 such as a continuous guide strip bent tothe curvature of the clay columnand anchored at each endor, in case theclay is sufficiently adhesive and will follow the curve withoutseparating from belt I, it may not be necessary to apply support alongthe outer curvature.

In regard to Fig. 3 and the segregating wire 50, it is understood thatthis wire may operate of clay, advancing the column' toward a point ofcharge segregation endwise and along a path having a downwardly curvingportion, the end of the column facing the mold at the segregatingposition, and then segregating said column of clay crosswise of the longaxis with such rapidity that the slice thus segregated falls in asubstantially horizontal plane with the surface of the mold.

2. In the manufacture of pottery ware on molds, the method whichcomprises feeding a slug of clay downwardly in endwise fashion with thelower end of the slug in registry with the molding surface of a mold andhorizontally cutting a slice of clay from the lower end of the slug withsuch speed that the slice falls to the surface of the mold in a levelsubstantially horizontal position.

3. In the manufacture of pottery ware on molds, the method whichcomprises, feeding a slug of clay in endwise fashion downwardly towardthe molding surface of a mold with the axis of the mold and the slug inalignment and depositing a slice of clay segregated from the column incentered position on the mold by cutting through the slug with suchspeed that the slice falls therefrom in level horizontal position to thesurface of the mold along the axis.

4. In apparatus for charging pottery molds with clay, means for feedinga slug of clay downwardly in endwise fashion toward a segregatingposition, a mold and support therefore disposed below. the end of theslug and in axial alignment therewith, a substantially horizontal cutof! wire,

means for moving the wire horizontally through V the projecting end ofthe slug to cut a disc therefrom and deposit it on said mold andmeans'operable to produce rapid motion of the last named means so as tocut oil the slice with such speed that the slice will fall insubstantially level horizontal position from the surface of the mold.

5. The combination with means for feeding a slug of clay in endwisefashion downwardly, a mold deposited below and in alignment with thelower end of the slug, a substantially horizontal cut-off wire, fluidactuated means for moving the wire horizontally through the lower end ofthe slug to cut a disc therefrom and deposit it on the mold and controlmeans for said fluid operated means operable to move the wire at suchspeed through the end of the slug that the disc cut therefrom will fallto the surface of the mold in substantially level horizontal position.

6. The combination with means for feeding a slug of clay in endwisefashion downwardly, a mold deposited therebelow and in registery withthe lower end of a slug, a substantially horizontal cut-oil wire andfluid operated means for moving the wire laterally through the end ofthe slug to cut a disc therefrom with such speed that the disc falls tothe surface of themold in substantially level horizontal position.

7. The method of centering discs of clay on the molding surface ofpottery molds wherein the discs are smaller in diameter than the moldingsurface of the molds which comprises feeding a slug of clay in endwisefashion downwardly toward the molding surface of a mold in registry withthe end of the slug, horizontally cutting across the column to cut adisc therefrom, supporting the severed discs in a level horizontalposition above the molding surface in line with the slug and mold andthen withdrawing support from such slice in a manner to cause the sliceto fall from the point of support to the receiving.

surface of the mold in a tion.

8. The method of centering discs of clay on the molding surface ofpottery molds wherein the discs are smaller in diameter than the moldingsurface of the molds which comprises, feeding a slug of clay downwardlyin endwise fashion to-' ward the molding surface of a mold, the axis ofthe mold and slug being-in alignment. cutting across the slug to cut adisc therefrom depositing the disc on a surface co-axial with the slugand mold which supports the disc in level horizontal position inalignment with the place where it is to be deposited on the mold andthen withdrawing support from the disc in such fashion that it falls inlevel horizontal position to center position on the mold.

9. The combination with means for feeding a level horizontal posislug ofplastic material downwardly in endwiseend of the slug to the the sliceof clay therefrom in a level horizontal position and deposit it on themold therebelow.

10. The combination with means for feeding a slug of plastic materialdownwardly, a substantially horizontal cut-ofl wire, means for movingthe wire laterally through the lower end of the slug to cut a disctherefrom, a mold disposed below and in alignment with the slug forreceiving the disc and means intermediate the end of the slug and themold on which the slice is dropped when out 0!! arranged to be actuatedby the means for moving the wire laterally through the sing forreleasing the slice and causing it to drop in a level horizontalposition to the surface of the mold.

11. In combination, means for feeding a slug of plastic materialdownwardly. a mold disposed therebelow in axial alignment therewith, amovable charge positioning device for receiving charges oi clay cut offfrom said slug located between the lower end of the slug and the mold, asubstantially horizontal cut-off wire and means for moving the wirelaterally through the lower end of the slug to cut a disc therefromarranged to actuate such positioner to release a charge of clay to amold therebelow.

12. In combination means for moving a slug of plastic materialdownwardly, a substantially horizontal cut-oi! wire, means for movingthe wire laterally through the lower end of the slug to cut a disctherefrom and deposit the same on a mold therebelow and means forsupporting and guiding the lower end of the slug comprising a pluralityof independently adjustable guide surfaces engageable with the end ofthe slug whereby the end face of the slug is centered on the mold.

13. Apparatus for positioning the lower end of a slu of clay relative tothe axis of a mold so that slices of clay cut off from the slug will bedeposited in centered position on the mold which comprises, meansforming a throat through which the slug is ejected and means for varyingthe size oi the throat to accommodate slugs of different size.

14. In combination, apparatus for positioning the lower end of a slug ofclay relative to the axis of a mold so that slices of clay cut off fromthe slug will be deposited in centered position on the mold whichcomprises, a support, means forming a throat through which the slug isejected carried by said support, adjustable means for varying thelocation of the throat on the support and a horizontally movable cut-oi!wire for intermittently segregating charges of clay from the lead end ofsaid slug projecting below said throat.

15. Apparatus for positioning the lower end of a slug of clay relative'to the axis of a mold so that slices of clay cut of! from the clay willbe deposited in centered position on the mold comprising a supporthaving a plurality of guide means associated therewith forming a throatthrough which the clay is ejected and means for varying the positionalrelation of said guide means with respect to one another.

16. In combination, apparatus for supporting and positioning thelowermost end of a slug of clay relative to the axis of a mold so thatslices of clay cut oi! from the slug will be deposited in centeredposition on the mold comprising a conductor for feeding the slug of claydownwardly, means embracing the lower end of the slug and forming athroat through which the clay is ejected mounted for adjustment relativeto said conductor a horizontal cut of! wire disposed below the lead endof the slug and means for moving said wire to cut oi! charges of claytherefrom.

17. In combination, means for feeding a slug of clay downwardly, a mold,a cut of! wire and means for moving the wire to cut-off slices of clayfrom the slug and a hollow chuck for supporting the mold arranged topermit the passage of slices of clay therethrough to a point of depositif there is not a mold in the chuck at the time the slice is cut off.

18. The combination with means for feeding a slug of plastic materialdownwardly, a mold therebelow in register therewith a substantially

